Cendrillon (2019)

the most beloved fairytale of all time

Music by Jules Massenet
Libretto by Henri Caïn

Sung in French with projected English supertitles

Agassiz Theatre • 5 James Street, Cambridge, MA

Performance Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlCCO2e55SU&t=107s

Act I: Alexander Chen ‘22 plays Pandolfe, or Cinderella’s father, in Act 1 of Massenet’s Cendrillon. Photo: Joshua Chiang.

Act I: Madame de la Haltière, or Cinderella’s stepmother (Rebecca Thau ‘20), with Noémie and Dorothée, the stepsisters (Hagar Adam and Ruva Chigwedere ‘21). Photo: Joshua Chiang.

Act I: La Fée, or the Fairy Godmother (Natalie Choo ‘22), casts a spell on Cendrillon, or Cinderella (Arianna Paz ‘19). Photo: Joshua Chiang

Act I: Arianna Paz ‘19 in the title role of Massenet’s Cendrillon. Photo: Joshua Chiang.

Act II: Le Prince Charmant, or Prince Charming (Samuel Rosner ‘20), reluctantly greets Cinderella’s stepfamily (Alexander Chen ‘22, Hagar Adam, Rebecca Thau ‘20, and Ruva Chigwedere ‘21). Photo: Joshua Chiang.

Act II: Cendrillon (Arianna Paz ‘19) and Le Prince Charmant (Samuel Rosner ‘20), meet and instantaneously fall in love at the Prince’s ball. Photo: Joshua Chiang.

Act II: Cendrillon (Arianna Paz ‘19) reluctantly runs away from Le Prince Charmant (Samuel Rosner ‘20) at the Prince’s Ball. Photo: Joshua Chiang.

Act II: James Rose (‘22) as Le Roi, or the King, in Massenet’s Cendrillon. Photo: Charles Wenzelberg.

Act III: Natalie Choo (‘22) as La Fée in Act III of Massenet’s Cendrillon. Photo: Charles Wenzelberg.

Act III: La Fée (Natalie Choo ‘22) casts a spell on Cendrillon (Arianna Paz ‘19) and Le Prince Charmant (Samuel Rosner ‘20). Photo: Charles Wenzelberg.

Benjamin P. Wenzelberg conducts the Harvard College Opera orchestra in Massenet’s Cendrillon. Photo: Charles Wenzelberg.

The full cast of Cendrillon. Photo: Charles Wenzelberg.

“Recruiting such a large company adds up to an impressive achievement in itself, but what was most remarkable was the musically and dramatically satisfying result — good singing, good acting and stage presence, excellent cooperation among a complicated ensemble constantly in motion.”

— The Boston Musical Intelligencer

Harvard College Opera dares you to dream in Massenet’s stunning rendition of the most beloved fairy tale of all time. Alongside deeply human moments of tragedy and hardship, Cinderella finds her happily ever after in this irresistible opera of beauty, whimsy, and love.

Performances

WEEK 1

Friday, February 1st at 7:00 PM
Saturday, February 2nd at 7:00 PM
Sunday, February 3rd at 2:00 PM + Fairytale Matinée*

WEEK 2

Friday, February 8th at 7:00 PM
Saturday, February 9th at 6:00 PM + Third Annual Opera Gala
Sunday, February 10th at 12:00 PM

*Featuring a meet-and-greet with the cast for families and children.

This production was funded in part by a grant from Harvard’s Office for the Arts.

Cast

Cendrillon … Arianna Paz ’19
La Fée … Natalie Choo ’22
Madame de la Haltière ... Rebecca Thau ’20
Le Prince Charmant … Samuel Rosner ’20
Pandolfe … Alexander Chen ’22
Noémie … Hagar Adam
Dorothée … Ruva Chigwedere ’21
Le Roi … James Rose ’22
Spirit … Bo Choi ’18
Le Surintendant des plaisirs, Le Doyen … Max Herman
Le Premier Ministre … Christian Carson ’22

Chorus ... Peyton Dunham, Kayla Johnson, Katherine Lazar, Max Herman, Jack Keller, Cobi Tadros, Katharine Courtemanche, Elizabeth Wu, Evelynne Fulda, Cara Kupferman, Isabella Kopits, Christian Carson, Nik Boström, James Rose, Bo Choi

Dancers … Erin Aslami, Laura Coe, Phoebe Suh

STAFF

Music Director … Benjamin P. Wenzelberg ’21
Stage Director … Madeleine Snow ’20
Financial Producer …Frances Choi ’21
Publicity Producer … Jessica Shand ’21
Technical Producer … Faith Ng ’22
Associate Financial Producer … James Rose ’22
Co-Stage Manager … Nick Fahy ’22
Co-Stage Manager … Clarence Chan ’20
Assistant Conductors … Jarod Stone ’21, Tristan Yang ’21, Kyra Teboe '22, April Chen ’22, Caleb Ren ’21, Mateo Lincoln ’20
Orchestra Manager … Jarod Stone ’21
Orchestra Adviser … Rachel Clemens ’19
Chorus Manager … Katherine Lazar ’21
Technical Director ... Jonathan Castillo ’21
Assistant Technical Director … Serena Chen ’22
Paint Charge … Molly Wieringa ’19
Set Designer … Sabrina Richert ’20
Light Designer … Charlie O’Mara ’20
Assistant Light Designer … Daphne Kaxiras ’21
Co-Costume Designer … Marta Pawluczuk ’22
Co-Costume Designer … Emily Murdock ’22
Co-Props Designer … Abraham Joyner-Meyers ’21
Co-Props Designer … Abraham Rebollo ’21